Xaivian Lee
 Lee withPrincetonin 2023 | |
| No. 4 – Princeton Tigers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Point guard |
| League | Ivy League |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 12, 2004 Toronto,Ontario,Canada |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 171 lb (78 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Crescent School (Toronto, Ontario) Perkiomen (Pennsburg, Pennsylvania) |
| College | Princeton(2022–present) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Xaivian Lee(born March 12, 2004) is a Canadian-Americancollege basketballplayer for thePrinceton Tigersof theIvy League.
Early life and high school career
[edit]Lee played both baseball and basketball in his youth and idolizedFred VanVleetof theToronto Raptors.[1]When he was 13, he traveled toBuffalo, New York,to watchPrincetonplayNotre Damein the2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.In a 2023 interview withSportsnet,his mother described the experience as crucial in his decision to pursue basketball: "What [could] be a possibility for him in the future became more tangible, being there, seeing that in person. I think it's a bit lovely how it came full circle."[1]
Lee initially attendedCrescent Schoolin Toronto, where he played basketball and was one of the best players in theCISAA.[1]He later attendedPerkiomen SchoolinPennsburg, Pennsylvania.[2]Lee also played for CIA Bounce AAU on theNike Elite Youth Basketball League(EYBL) circuit.[1]
The father of one of Lee's AAU teammates, former basketball player Cordell Llewellyn, contacted the recruiting coordinator and associate head coach at Princeton, Brett MacConnell, recommending that he take a look at Lee.[1]The Princeton staff later had the chance to see him play during a trip he made to the United States with his high school and AAU teams in between his junior and senior seasons.[1]"I remember texting Brett after the game and I was like, 'Oh my God. We need him right now,'" said Princeton head coachMitch Henderson."He had all the stuff — everything you see now was there: the way he would flow through the game and his ability to make things look simple and easy. The passing, the shooting, it was all there."[1]
College career
[edit]As a freshman during the2022–23 season,Lee made an immediate impact as a rotation player off the bench.[3][4]In his freshman season, he appeared in 32 games averaging 4.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists, helping Princeton reach the Sweet Sixteen.[1][5][6]He began the following season averaging 19.5 points per game, leading Princeton to a 9–1 record through their first ten games, the school's best start in a century.[7]In the conference opener against Harvard, he scored a career-high 33 points, in addition to eight rebounds, seven assists, and two steals, being named conference player of the week for his performance.[8]On April 5, 2024, Lee declared for the2024 NBA draft,while retaining his college eligibility.[9][10]
National team career
[edit]Lee participated in the2023 FIBA U-19 World CupinDebrecen, Hungary,representing theCanada men's national under-19 basketball team.He averaged a team-high 14.1 points to go along with 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, helping lead Canada to a seventh-place finish.[11][12]
Career statistics
[edit]| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goalpercentage | 3P% | 3-point field goalpercentage | FT% | Free throwpercentage |
| RPG | Reboundsper game | APG | Assistsper game | SPG | Stealsper game |
| BPG | Blocksper game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College
[edit]| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | Princeton | 32 | 0 | 13.4 | .376 | .232 | .804 | 1.8 | .9 | .5 | .1 | 4.8 |
| 2023–24 | Princeton | 29 | 29 | 31.2 | .451 | .338 | .798 | 5.7 | 3.7 | 1.0 | .5 | 17.1 |
Personal life
[edit]Lee was born inToronto,and he is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada. He is of South Korean descent.[13]
References
[edit]- ^abcdefghWeisfeld, Oren (December 15, 2023)."How Xaivian Lee overcame doubters to become a star on the court for Princeton".Sportsnet.RetrievedDecember 31,2023.
- ^"The Tigers Next Star Point Guard: Xaivian Lee".Whoa! Sports World.2022-01-22.Retrieved2024-02-03.
- ^"With Freshman Guard Lee Making Big Impact, PU Men's Hoops Routs Monmouth, Moves to 8-2".
- ^"Princeton men's basketball's lightning bug Xaivian Lee tough for opponents to catch".Trentonian.2022-12-11.Retrieved2024-02-03.
- ^"First-year guard Xaivian Lee participates in Canada Basketball Assessment camp".The Princetonian.Retrieved2024-02-03.
- ^"Nothing will faze Princeton men's basketball's Xaivian Lee".Trentonian.2023-10-30.Retrieved2024-02-03.
- ^Elsey, Jacob (2023-12-12)."CBB's Shiftiest Player Is An Ivy League Economics Student That Has Princeton Off To Its Best Start In 100 Years".BroBible.Retrieved2024-02-03.
- ^"Lee shines once again as the men's basketball team opens Ivy League play with a dominant victory against the Crimson".The Princetonian.Retrieved2024-02-03.
- ^"Princeton guard Xaivian Lee to declare for 2024 NBA draft".ESPN.com.April 5, 2024.RetrievedApril 5,2024.
- ^"Sophomore standout Xaivian Lee declares for NBA draft, maintaining college eligibility".The Princetonian.Retrieved2024-04-09.
- ^TSN, Jeremy Visser (2024-01-19)."Canadian Xaivian Lee playing with joy at Princeton".TSN.Retrieved2024-02-03.
- ^Zielonka, Adam (2023-11-26)."Xaivian Lee has the makings of the next great Princeton guard".Guarden State.Retrieved2024-02-03.
- ^"The phenomenon: Princeton's Xaivian Lee is taking college basketball by storm".Asbury Park Press.Retrieved2024-02-03.